LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Eastern Oregon University women's and men's track and field teams begin their 2012 indoor season Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.

The Mountaineers compete as a full team for the first time this season at the Bronco Classic. Sarah Beck, Karlee Coffey and Robbie Haynie have all competed individually already this year. Coffey and Haynie have also each automatically-qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships.

Coffey currently has the third best mark in the NAIA in the women's 3,000 meters. The junior ran to a 10:07.95 finish at the University of Washington Invitational. Haynie owns the top pole vault mark at 17 feet, 6.5 inches, with the current second mark at 16 feet, 4.75 inches. Haynie also has the sixth best mark in the high jump at 6 feet, 8.25 inches, an NAIA National Championship auto-qualifying mark.

Eastern head coach Ben Welch, who is returning for his 10th season, will lead the Mountaineers to three meets as a team in 2012. The season opens at the Boise State University Bronco Classic Saturday, followed by the BSU Team Challenge on Feb. 10-11, and then the Vandal Collegiate in Moscow, Idaho, on Feb. 18.

The Mountaineers cap off their season at the NAIA Indoor National Championships in Geneva, Ohio, from March 1-3. EOU had its best showing at last season's national championships, bringing home three national titles. Haynie claimed the heptathlon and pole vault crowns, while Coffey raced to a first place 3,000-meter finish.

Eastern Oregon had the highest men's indoor team finish in school history at 11th. The women's 12th place team finish was the second highest in school history. Haynie was named the Male Athlete of the Meet, and EOU had 12 All-American finishes.

The Mountaineers have excelled in the 800-meter races on the women's and men's sides in recent years thanks to a pair of talented runners. Alma Garcilazo and Ryan Booth return this season for their senior years. Garcilazo ran to a second-place national finish in 2011 in a school-record time of 2:11.48. Booth had a fifth-place All-American finish at the national championships with a time of 1:53.81.

Eastern travels with 22 student-athletes to compete Saturday in Nampa, with three individuals competing for the first time as Mountaineers. Last season, EOU opened the season with five NAIA automatic-qualifying marks at the Jackson's Invitational in Nampa.

The Bronco Classic welcomes 15 teams to the Jacksons Indoor Track at the Idaho Center. Washington holds the highest rankings this week, sitting at No. 28 for the women and No. 42 for the men. UCLA ranks No. 65 for the men and No. 68 for the women, while Boise State ranks No. 72 for the men and 119 for the women. Utah State's women are the only other NCAA Division I competitor in this meet with a ranking, sitting at No. 70.

Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings have ranked women's teams in the Division II category, sitting at No. 85 and No. 89, respectively.

The Broncos also welcome the Academy of Art, Cal State LA, Treasure Valley Community College, Southern Oregon, Lewis-Clark, College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon and George Fox to the meet.

The Bronco Classic is a one-day meet, slated for a 9:00 a.m. start with the women's high jump on Saturday, Feb. 4. The mixed 800-meter run will be the first event on the track, starting at 10:10 a.m., while the final event of the day, the women's 4x400-meter relay is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.